2nd Curtain Issue Praktica LB

[bmattock]

I just got a used Praktica LB from eBay and it has a shutter problem.

When the camera is not wound, with the back open, you see the metal vertical shutter is down, so that's good. The mirror is also down, so you can see through the viewfinder and focus, etc.

However, when you wind the camera, the 2nd curtain does not appear as it should, so when fully wound, from the back of the camera with the back open, you can see the back of the mirror and partially through the lens opening.

Obviously, this is not correct, since the film would be exposed with the light getting through like that.

The camera appears to be in good shape otherwise; viewfinder is clear, mirror is not jammed, shutter speeds sound more-or-less appropriate. It's just that the 2nd curtain, which should appear when the camera is wound, isn't appearing.

The camera shows no signs of ever having been worked on before - the screw heads are clean and unmarked.

The camera is not worth paying to have repaired, but it seems too nice to just throw away.

Any thoughts on the shutter issue? Something common that perhaps I could handle myself?

I would appreciate any advice. Thanks!

 

[johnf04]

There's a thread here:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/classics/forum/messages/15681/12266.html?1219279854
in the archived classic camera repair forum, which has some useful photographs.

Also - this site mentions repairing a Praktica LLC (same shutter).
http://mattsclassiccameras.com/praktica_llc.html

 

[bmattock]

There's a thread here:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/classics/forum/messages/15681/12266.html?1219279854
in the archived classic camera repair forum, which has some useful photographs.

Also - this site mentions repairing a Praktica LLC (same shutter).
http://mattsclassiccameras.com/praktica_llc.html

Thank you! Unfortunately the first site is well beyond my abilities.

 

[Valkir1987]

I don't know how good your dutch is, you might give this a try:

http://www.analoogfotoforum.nl/index.php/topic,4831.0.html

 

[bmattock]

I don't know how good your dutch is, you might give this a try:

http://www.analoogfotoforum.nl/index.php/topic,4831.0.html

The Dutch doesn't matter, since the photos tell the tale. Excellent quality and seem to clearly explain what needs to be done, but unfortunately, well beyond my abilities. I cannot do this. So it will be set aside, perhaps it can provide parts for another camera some day. Thank you for posting this excellent link.

 

[Valkir1987]

Not many people work on Prakticas nowadays, because there are plenty of them and their shutter requires certain skill. There are more valuable camera's around which bring in more efford in the cost of labour.

The design of the Praktica L series was intended to be free of service, but aging of materials like foam and vaporation of lubricants for the optics (which do get into the camera unfortunately) showed otherwise.

But once properly maintained a Praktica can be a very smooth and reliable shooter. But therefore I hope that you can find someone on the other side of the ocean, who is kind and skillfull enough to service your LB at a fair price. 🙂

If you decide to find another model, the MTL5 (5B or 50) is the one I would recommend. It's got all the features the model needs and some things that cause defects have been improved.

 

[bmattock]

Very good information, thank you.

 

[johnf04]

I bought an LLC, new, in 1973. It still works fine - except for the meter.

 

[rick oleson]

A good parts body is handy to have around anyway... sometimes they sell on the 'Bay for more than working examples of the same model (never quite figured out the reason - I guess repair guys can't bring themselves to steal parts from a working camera and are willing to pay a bit extra to avoid the guilt)